Redskins Name Nate Kaczor as Special Teams Coordinator

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have named Nate Kaczor (KAT-sir) as Special Teams Coordinator.

Kaczor is entering his 12th NFL season after spending the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Kaczor has spent his NFL career in various coaching capacities with the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before assuming the role of special teams coordinator with the Buccaneers in 2016, he was the special teams coordinator with the Titans' (2013-15) and assisted with the Jaguars' special teams unit (2008-11).

"We are excited to have Nate join our staff. We have had the opportunity to face his special teams play during his time at Tampa Bay and respected competing against him," said Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins Head Coach. "He is a competitor and we have noticed and admired the intensity his units have played with through the course of his time as a special teams coordinator and assistant coach in the NFL."

In his first year with Tampa Bay, Kaczor worked with punter Bryan Anger, who set Buccaneers records for both punts inside the 20 (37) and net punting average (42.7), with both of those ranking in the top five in the NFL in 2016. Anger and Josh Robinson were key members of a punt coverage unit that ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return average allowed, limiting opponents to just 5.3 yards per punt return. Robinson led Tampa Bay with 12 solo special teams tackles, tied for the third-most in the NFL that season

Kaczor joined Tampa Bay after spending four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, the final three as the team's special teams coordinator (2013-15) after being hired as the assistant offensive line coach in his first season (2012). In 2015, the Titans tied for the NFL lead in special teams takeaways, while in 2013 Kaczor’s unit ranked third in the league in opponent punt return average and eighth in kickoff return average.

In three seasons under Kaczor, Titans punter Brett Kern tied for the third-most punts inside the 20 (94) in the NFL. In 2015, despite punting 88 times, Kern saw only one touchback on the year. In 2014, Kern posted a net average of 40.8, a career best and a Titans franchise record. Kaczor also worked with kicker Ryan Succop, who set a career high in field goal percentage in 2015 (87.5), surpassing the career best he had established the season before.

Kaczor entered the NFL as an assistant special teams coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2008-11. During those four years, Jacksonville had one of the league’s top special teams coverage units, allowing the lowest punt return average in the NFL (6.5 avg.) and the eighth-lowest kickoff return average (21.8 avg.). In each of Kaczor’s final two seasons, Montell Owens earned Pro Bowl recognition as a special teams player.

Prior to joining the NFL, Kaczor spent 17 years coaching in college, the final two working as offensive coordinator (2007) and tight ends coach (2006) at Louisiana-Monroe. In his only season as offensive coordinator, the team ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing offense and averaged its most points scored since 1993.

Before his time at Louisiana-Monroe, Kaczor spent two seasons (2004-05) as the co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach at Idaho and four seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Nebraska-Kearney (2000-03). Kaczor began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at his alma mater, Utah State, working as an offensive assistant for nine seasons (1991-99), helping the team win three conference championships.

A center at Utah State, Kaczor was a team captain and earned all-conference honors in 1989.